title: Prevalence and associated factors of back pain in adults from southern Brazil: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the prevalence of spinal pain and possible prognostic factors in a representative sample of Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study evaluated 972 adults aged between 20 and 69 years, of both sexes, residents in a urban area. The questionnaire included socio-economic, demographics, behavioral and health-related questions. Spinal pain was defined as any pain or discomfort in the spine somewhere in the last 12 months, either in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of spinal pain was 63.1% (95% CI 60.0 to 66.1) being lower back the most prevalent condition (40%). Female gender 1.24 (1.12 to 1.37) and poor health status(p<0.001) were the variables that remained associated with the presence of spinal pain in the final model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of back pain is important as it is associated with activity limitation and with health care utilization.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. gustavodiasferreira@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Gustavo D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Marcelo C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Airton J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rombaldi
authors.forename: Eduardo D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Wrege
authors.forename: Fernando V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Pedro C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hallal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult